Newsletter #3
Dear friends & supporters,
This newsletter was a tough one. TBH, I find the holidays complicated. They’re a tangled mess of joy and anxiety. A constant negotiation as I try to enjoy my family even though we have very different worldviews. Immigration, guns, abortion, prisons and policing, the ways capitalism gets especially aggressive around this time of year...whatever the issue, whatever the topic, I probably disagree with my family. It makes the holidays, well, complicated.
What I love about Women Unite! is how it uncomplicates things. As my brain swirls about, trying to figure out what to feel, what to think, and what to say and not say, I can center my thoughts and find my gratitude by focusing on Women Unite! I think about our recent third birthday bash which raised $25,460 for our work and the work of our partners. I think about our wonderful partners, Assata’s Daughters, Midwest Access Coalition, and {she crew}, and the many ways they’re making our city a more beautiful and more complete place. I think about my friends - the badass babes who have made Women Unite! what it is. I think about Women Unite!’s growing network of supporters.
Reflecting on Women Unite! gets me out of the weeds. It helps me find the space I need to truly appreciate my family, who, in spite of our differences, instilled shared values of hard work, generosity, and finding meaning beyond my narrow experience. It reminds me how fulfilling this past year has been in spite of the never ending stream of acidic news. Most importantly, reflecting on Women Unite! helps me envision a brighter and better future, one that I truly believe is possible.
As we make our way through the holidays and look ahead to the new year, I want to say thank you to everyone who - through your dedication and creativity - gave Women Unite! so much to celebrate. Thank you for reminding me - reminding us all - of just how joyful, just how fun, just how life-giving this work (and even the holidays) can be.
With joy,
Liz Jansen
Co-Founder & Executive Director